Colonel Dan Bryan - a remarkable Kilkenny man buried at Clara Graveyard, Parish of Clara, county Kilkenny

In a modest and unassuming grave in Clara graveyard lie the remains of one of Ireland's little known leaders who influenced the direction and development of the nascent Irish state.  Colonel Dan Bryan was born on the 9th May 1900 at Dunbell, near Bennettsbridge in county Kilkenny and attended at one time the local National School at Dunbell.   The modest grave perhaps reflects his own quiet and unassuming character but belies the pivotal, if covert, position he occupied especially during World War II when he played a significant but largely unnoticed role, mainly because of the nature of his work.   His family had farmed at Dunbell for generations and his father John Bryan (1873-1940) held two farms and about 500 acres.  John Bryan, a man of sound judgement,  had political interests and was a  Councillor on Kilkenny County Council.  He and his wife Margaret Lanigan (1878-1954) had fifteen children in all - Dan was the eldest.   As a young man Dan studied initially for Medicine at University College, Dublin but in November 1917 he joined the Irish Volunteers serving in C and G Companies, 4th Battalion, Dublin Brigade.   In June 1922 he joined the National Army and acquired his first commission as Captain in September 1923.  He was to serve most of his career at Army HQ, much of this being in the Intelligence service; his experience in Intelligence work dates from the time of Michael Collins.  In June 1941, during World War II he was appointed as Chief Staff Officer of G2, or in other words Director of Military Intelligence, the Irish equivalent of British MI5.  He is perhaps best known for his very successful operation of G2 and his participation with Dr Richard Hayes, Director of the National Library in Dublin, in breaking German codes and working closely with MI5.   Dr Hayes deciphered codes used by German Agents in Ireland between 1940-1943 and was responsible for breaking the code used by Herman Goertz, the chief spy of the Abwehr in Ireland.
Colonel Dan Bryan died 23rd June 1985.  His papers, which cover his military career and research interests, were deposited by his family at the Archives Department of University College, Dublin; the indexes to these papers can be consulted online but some material still remains closed to public access.  These papers include the Counter Espionage Section and record the activities of G2 with details of mainly German nationals who were under investigation, German Intelligence activities in Ireland and foreign agents active in Ireland.  The papers reflect Colonel Bryan's moral authority and integrity during this difficult time.
Colonel Bryan had an intense interest in Irish military history and was a founder member in 1949 of the prestigious Irish Military History Society, being on its Council from 1950 onwards.  He contributed to its Journal The Irish Sword and was made a Vice President in 1958, a position he held until his death.   His wider military interests included the careers of Irishmen serving abroad in the continental armies of France, Austria and Russia.
He joined the Kilkenny Archaeological Society when it was formed in 1946 and remained a member until his death. He was also a member of the Irish Genealogical Research Society; his research papers at UCD contain notes on the Bryan family and research into the history of county Kilkenny, and Bennettsbridge, in particular.  His papers also include notes on the Walsh Regiment in the French Army and on Count Walsh de Serrant, who was of Kilkenny stock.
Colonel Bryan's role in Irish Military Intelligence was publically acknowledged in a 1983 RTE television four-part series "Caught In a Free State" in which he was portrayed as Colonel Brian Dillon by the actor John Kavanagh.  Hermann Goertz was played by Peter Jankowsky.






The headstones at Clara Graveyard are:-

1.  In loving memory of John Bryan of Dunbell died 13th June 1940 aged 67 years.  Also his wife Margaret died 9th February 1954.  And their sons Walter died 25th Oct 1950, James died 9th Oct 1984 aged 79 years. His wife Kitty died 9th April 1996 aged 73 years.  Michael Bryan died 31st Dec 19976 aged 82 yrs.  This is a decorated Celtic Cross over a headstone and within a kerbed area.

2.  Sacred to the memory of Eleanor Mary Bryan beloved wife of Colonel Dan Bryan, Ballsbridge, Dublin, died 17th Feb 1978.  The above Dan Bryan died 16th June 1985.  His brother Richard died 25th Dec 1982. RIP.  This is also a decorated Celtic Cross over a headstone and within a kerbed area, lying just in front of the above memorial to his parents.

For further reading see:-

1. http://www.ucd.ie/t4cms/p0071-bryan-dan-descriptive-catlaogue.pdf

    This is the collection of the Papers of Colonel Dan Bryan held by University College, Dublin.

2. http://eprints.maynoothuniversity.ie

    Biddlecombe, Darragh.  Colonel Dan Bryan and the Evolution of Irish Military Intelligence 1919-

    1945.

3. Walsh, Maurice.  G2 - In Defence of Ireland: Irish Military Intelligence 1918-1945. The Collins

    Press. 2010.

4. Clara Heritage Society,  A Social History of People and Places in the Parish of Clara. 2006.

                                      

Memorial to Colonel Dan Bryan at Clara Graveyard.